Industry Intelligence

News & Quick Takes

IPMI headlines, market moves, and MDabroad commentary — updated as the industry moves.

Cost Containment
MDabroad · March 23, 2026

Cost Containment in Latin America: Why Local Intelligence Wins

How dual pricing, unbundled billing, and currency risk inflate LATAM claims — and how MDabroad's 26-year on-the-ground network delivers 35–55% savings without compromising care.

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Crisis Response
MDabroad · March 16, 2026

We're Still There: MDabroad's Ongoing Response to the UAE Crisis

As war exclusions halt insurance payouts across the UAE, MDabroad continues to provide assistance, telemedicine, and coordination services to stranded travelers — gratis. Working with local partners LGA Assistance and CONNEX, our team has coordinated dozens of telemedicine consultations and maintained 24/7 contact with members on the ground.

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LinkedIn
MDabroad · March 11, 2026

25 Years — Leadership Reflections with CFO Ralph Patino

🥂 After 25 years, one principle still guides how we operate. Our CFO shares his perspective on leadership, service, and the values that have shaped MDabroad. Because in global healthcare, doing things the right way still matters.

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Analysis
MDabroad · March 11, 2026

The global IPMI market hit $38.8B in 2024 — colliding with 10.7% medical inflation, a 164% chargemaster markup gap, and 45–60 day claims cycles. The Middle East crisis this week is a live test of what those structural gaps look like in practice.

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Market Intelligence
Willis Towers Watson · November 2023 (via MDabroad)

Global Medical Trend Rate Hits 10.7% — First Double-Digit Year on Record

WTW's 2024 Global Medical Trends Survey shows medical cost inflation hit 10.7% in 2023, up from 7.4% the prior year — the first time global medical trend has broken double digits. IPMI programs are feeling this disproportionately for U.S.-routed cases.

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LinkedIn
MDabroad · August 2025

Patient Brokering: A Dangerous Ethical Issue in International Healthcare

Patient brokering — directing patients to specific facilities in exchange for referral fees — remains one of the most underreported ethical risks in international healthcare. What payors and assistance companies need to know to protect their members.

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IPMI
Health & Protection · October 2025

IPMI Providers Forecast ~10% Annual Premium Increases for Next Three Years

At the H&P House of Lords roundtable, IPMI market participants signalled sustained premium pressure ahead. "A domestic scheme is in the tens of thousands. An international scheme runs into hundreds of thousands — 10% on that soon adds up."

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LinkedIn
MDabroad · July 2025

USD Devaluation in 2025: Critical Insights for Travel Insurers Worldwide

A weakening dollar reshapes the economics of international medical claims. What travel insurers and IPMI carriers need to model for their 2025 programs — and which markets feel the impact most acutely.

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